The Girl On The Train is a mystery crime drama released in 2016. It is directed by Tate Taylor and stars Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, and Edgar Ramírez. While commuting on the train, a woman begins to envision other people’s lives.
Rachel
Commuting is a part of our daily routine. Whether it is going to meetings or just a regular hangout with friends or relatives. Importantly, it takes us from point A to point B.
In addition, there are different ways of voyaging. For instance, via car, bus, or train to name a few. For Rachel (played by Blunt), the aforementioned one is part of her day-to-day schedule. Every day, she commutes to her workplace via train.
During the ride, there are lots of activities to do. For instance, listening to music, reading the newspapers, or talking to the person sitting next to you.
For her, it is neither of the mentioned above. She enjoys the scenery and the neighborhood through the glass window. That is how she starts to wonder about other people’s lives.
Megan
Megan (Bennett), a young woman lives with her husband, Scott (Evans), in the beautiful neighborhood opposite the train tracks. An athletic woman, who likes to jog around in the open air and hits the gym for yoga sessions.
Through the years, she has bounced around different jobs. And now she is taking the role of a nanny.
Through the eyes of Rachel, the pitch-perfect lives she desires ever since her divorce from her ex-husband, Tom (Theroux), who has moved on with his life and found himself a new wife.
Anna
Anna is a happily married bride. Particularly, she has everything a woman aspires to be, a mother. Of course, taking care of a baby is a 24/7 job. Thus, the reason why she has hired a nanny.
Just like Megan, Anna lives with her husband, Tom, in the neighborhood opposite the train tracks. A two-floor house and a white picket fence. Undoubtedly, she is living happily ever after.
The truth is, through the lens of the train, the lives of others can be deceiving. Similar to what social media portrays. But once you are not just glancing at the object but getting to know the person, it tells a different outcome. Indeed, a tale of two cities.
“We are tied forever now, the three of us. Bound forever by the story we share.”
-Rachel, The Girl on the Train (2016)
So, what do these three females have in common, and how are they bound forever by the story they share?
Lastly, the motion picture is based on the debut novel of the same name, written by Paula Hawkings (2015). Having read the book, I can honestly share that scrolling through each page will have you on the edge of your seat, just like the film.
Don’t believe me? Watch “The Girl on the Train” trailer and make sure to watch the movie!
- “The Girl on the Train” movie. Directed by Tate Taylor (Dreamworks and Universal Pictures, 2016). ↩︎
